Method and apparatus for feeding rotating disk-forming machines



April 10, 1928.

' J. W. $MlTH- umnon AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ROTATING. DISK Fomuue mcamss 2 sneak-sheet 1 I NV EN TOR.

ri gin al Filed JOHN'W. SMITH Y ATTORNEY.

April 10, 1928. 3;

J. w. SMITH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ROTATING DISK FORMING M Original Filed lay 24. 192; z Shana-Sheet 2 n A 4 ACHINES l8 A b [Ill/IA- III/l/ INVKENTOR. Hlfl W SMlTl-l Y Patented Apr. 10, 1928. I 1,665,823

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ROTATING DISK-FORMING MACHINES.

Original application filed May 24, 1923, Serial No. 641.240. Divided and this application flle'd March 2,

1925. Serial No. 12,631.

The rolling mill feeding device of my in- The apparatus by means of which this vention which primarily relates to feeding method is carried out is possessed in comflat plate blanks to a machine for rolling mon with the method of a number of admetallic disks was the subject of my applicavantages. Machines for making tapered tion, Serial No. 641,240, filed May 24:, 192$. wheel disks very commonly comprise a ro- This application is a division of that apphtating working element associated with a cation, in which the feeding device was first determinate Working axis upon which the disclosed. While specifically related to this work being operated upon is rotated. Either machine and of a type a apted for the feedthe working element or the axis, or both,

ing of fiat disk or plate-like blanks to a are maintained continuously in rotation. By machine making tapered wheel disks, While this method and apparatus the blanks can the working elements of the machine are in be fed to and from the rotatable working rotation, the apparatus contains a number element without stopping rotation of either of fundamental features which will be found the element or the working axis. In carryof utility in connection in other fields than ing out the method I establish the feeding the making of tapered wheel disks. Indeed, position laterally of the working axis by the apparatus but carries out a fundamental locating there a blank supporting and cenmcthod of my invention. The method is terin r means. I provide guiding means for applicable in general to the feeding to a dethis blank centering and supporting means 20 tern'iinate working position of any blanks pie-establishing a path of movement laterwhich are to be worked upon through their ally toward and from the working gxis, and rotation. I axially along that axis. This gliding means In general, the method consists in estabthrou h-stops or equivalents associated with lishing a'blank to be fed upon a feeding or embodied in the guiding means terminates position laterally of the working position dethe path of lateral movement with the parts sired, relatively moving the feeding and in axial coincidence and through such deworking positions into substantial c0inci vices inhibit the axial movement to a fixed dence, and thereupon setting up the Working degree. The blank centering means is conrotation of the blank as a result of such stituted a releasable locking device to hold no movement. Other features in the method the blank being fed or removed upon the consist in establishing the feeding position support. There is provided a releasing in a plane axially disposed from the workmeans operated when the blank centering mg position, then relatively moving the means has been moved to axial coincidence feeding and working positions to-axial cointo release the blank from the support. The

.15 cidencc, and thereafter relatively moving working rolls engage the released blank and them axially into full or plane coincidence. effect its rotation. The blank support is The blank in feeding position is held in a made relatively thin and with the blank bench-rotating position and as a result of ing fed can be inter-leaved between the romovement into Working position is set into tatable Working element and the blank 40 rotation during work upon a blank. Its pe- Worked upon to impart the axial and lateral riphcry is worked upon to provide an axial movements necessary to removal. inclination thereof. The feeding mechanism Numerous other features of my method engages a blank to remove it through this and apparatus contribute to their advantage inclination; In general, this inclination and refinement. These points will be'dis-' 45 amounts to a displacement of the periphery closed in the following specification and of the worked blank. Specifically, I engage drawings. 7 the worked blank by injecting the blank be The drawings delineate that form of my ing fed beneath the displaced periphery and apparatus best known to me when I filed thereupon exerting first an axial thrust and my application recited above.

5 then a lateral thrust upon the worked blank. .Of the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view means showing blanks in various base and r0- of the apparatus showing the the parent tatable platen of the machine in application.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional elevation of a. portion of this apparatus showing the rotatable platen or working element in vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a supporting arm of the apparatus taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 4 -4 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 to 9 are vertical, central sections of the rotatable platen or working element and the blank supporting and centering positions of the blank feeding and removing operations and the parts in corresponding relation.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged central vertical section of the parts as illustrated in .Fig. 8 taken substantially on line1010'of Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a-transversc section and in approximate horizontal plane of the blank centering means in the position shown in Fig. and line 11-11 thereof.

A disk placed upon continuously rotating table 11 is rolled and spun to tapered form by radially traversed rolls 35. Figs. 2 and 9.

In this embodiment of my invention, the feeding device consists of an arm, 102,.pivoted, at 1'01, to a bracket, 100, projecting from the base, 10,'of the machine. A block, 104, is journaled on a vertical pin, 108, at the end of the arm,102, and this block car ries a horizontal stud, 105, on which is journaled a block, 106, which is fastened to a lever, 107. A blank-supporting plate, 108, is fastened to the forward end of this lever and is shaped having a concave recess. 108. at its end, to fit thecentering stud, 18, of the table, 11. This plate is adapted to support a blankto be rolled, as shown in Fig. 10. A strip, 109., is fastened to the upper surface of the lever, 107, and has its end bent downwardly toward the plate, 108. so as to yieldingly blank supported on said plate. The blank supported by said plate is held centered with respect thereto by means of an 'arm, 112, which is pivoted, at 113, to a bracket carried by the lever, 107, and which carries a rod, 114, at its free end, having an enlarged collar, 116, at its lower end, adapted to fit 1n. a central opening formed in the blank. This rod. has a handle, 115, and it is held yieldingly in position by a spring. 111, which engages the member, 112, at thehinge joint, 113. is fastened to the A handle, 117, lever, 107, by means of which the device may be tilted and swung. from one side to the other, as may be necessary in ejecting a. finished disk and feeding a new blank to the machine. A strip, 118. which is fastened to the arm, 102, carries two set screws,

8 ing plate, 108, and extends between $211 which yieldingly engage the upper surface of a- 119, which contact with the lever, 107, and limit its tilting movement about the stud, 105. A spring, 129, interposed between the plate, 118, and the lever, 107, serves to help counterbalance the weight of the blank'supported in the device-so as to make it easier to n'ianipulate. by arm, 102, engages one of the columns, 19, of the machine and limits the swinging movement of the device, about the pivot, 101, toward the machine. This set screw may be so set that the swinging movement will the rod, 114, is in line with the centering stud, 18, in which position the new blank may vice and deposited upon' the rotating table, 11.

\Vhile the rolls, 35, are operating upon a blank placed upon-the table, 11, to increase its diameter and reduce its thickness by a combined spinning'and rolling action, the operator places a new blank upon the feeding device, which has been swung to one side. The blank, B, rests upon the supportplate and the strip, 110, engages the upper surface of the blank. The blank is so locatedupon the plate that the notch, 108', at the end of the supporting plate, is'in line with an opening A set screw, 130, carried formed in the center of the blank. After the blank has been placed in proper position on vthe supporting plate, the arm, 112 is swung down so that the collar, 116, on the lower end of the rod, 114, enters the central opening in the blank and cooperates with the notched end, 108', to hold the blank centered. The collar, 116,

is cut away, at 116, on the side opposite from the end of the lever, 107, fora purpose which will presently appear. The blank is positioned upon the supporting plate of the feeding device in the manner thus described, while the machine is operating to roll out a blank which has previously been placed upon the table. The rolling operation raises its periphery (see Fig. 5). As soon as the rolling operation has terminated and the rolls, 85. rise from the table, 11, the operator swings the feeding device carrying a new blank toward the table 'to eject the rolled disk. A, and deposit the blank. B, in working position upon the rotating table. The operation of ejecting a rolled disk and feeding a blank to the table is shown very clearly in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive. Fig. 5 shows the rotating table, 11, with a rolled disk. A, thereon. Fig. 6 illustrates the operation of ejecting the rolled disk. The edge of a blank -B, mounted on the feeding device. is inserted between the raised periphery of disk. A, and may be shoved between these t\' 0 parts until the rod, 114, of the feeding device. engages the periphery of the disk, A.. \Vith the blank, B,

beginning of the t of the supporting plate the table. 11. and

in this position, the operator may p'ry the disk, A, from the table by tilting the lever, 107, about the horizontal stud, 105. This serves to lift the disk, A, so that the cen' tral opening in such disk clears the centering stud, 18, of the table. The operator continues to move the feeding device so as to bring the central opening of the blank, B, into line with the centering stud, 18, of the table and, since the periphery of the rolled disk, A collar, 116, carried by it, this movement of the feeding device forces the rolled disk, A, from the table and discharges it from the opposite side thereof, at the same time that the blank, B, is centered with respect to the table.- This operation is clearly illustrated in Fig. 7 When tle blank has been brought to centered position, the notch, 108', of the supporting plate, 108, engagesthe centering stud, 18, of the table andby tilting the lever, 107, the blank is allowed to drop to working position on the table and in this movement the end of the centering stud, 18, engages the notch, 116', formed in the collar, 116, of the rod, 114, and lifts the collar, 116, from "the central opening of the blank. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 10. The operator now withdraws the feeding device because the centering stud, 18, engages, in the central opening in the blank. The supporting plate, 108, is moved from between the blank, B, and the table, 11, and the blank, B, drops to working position upon the table. The collar, the side opposite the lever, 107, permits this withdrawal movement. At the same time, the cutaway portion, 116', of the collar, 116, engages with the centering stud, 18, when the blank is moved to centered position and helps the operator to. guide the device and center the blank properly. Fig. 9 shows the blank in working position upon the table after the withdrawal of the feeding device. The operation of ejecting the rolled disk and feeding the new blank to the table can be readily performed by one continuous movement of the feeding device. The operator can do this very easily and quickly so that the rolled disk can be ejected and a new blank fed to .the table during the interval in which the-machine mechanism holds the rolls, 35, in elevated position. The table, 11. may rotate continuously during this feeding operation and it is not necessary to stop the rotation of the table since an operator may easilv'discharge the rolled disk and feed a new blank to the table during the interval in which the rolls are held raised in the normal operation of the machine.

It will be noted that the feeding device is pivoted on a pin, 103, carried by the arm, 102. and that the arm, 102, is also pivoted, at 101, on a vertical axis.

what is practically ,is engaged by the rod, 114', of the 116, being cut away, at 116, at'

In the usual movements of the feeding device, it swings around the axis, 101. In case the rolls, 35, should descend and engage the blank before the feeding device has been withdrawn, the action of the rolls upon the blank would tend to turn the feeding device around the axis, 103, so that it would be swung away from the table without doing any harm.

The block, 104, which carries the stud, 105,

on which thelever, 107, of the feeding device is pivoted, is frictionally connected with the arm, 102, so that, ordinarily, it does not turn around the axis, 103, although it may do so in case extra stress is put upon it. This frictional connection is effected by forming the arm, 102, of two spaced straps, 102, between the outer ends of which the block, 104, is located. The pin, 103, is carried by the outer ends of these straps and passes through the block, and 4. A bolt, 103, connects the two straps adjacent the block, 104, and draws them toward each other so that they engage the block, 106, frictionally, and tend to hold it against turning movement upon the pin, 103. This arrangement acts as a safety device in case the rolls should descend before the feeding device has been withdrawn.

So my method and apparatus enable me to obtain the object of my invention to eject the 104, as shown in Figs. 3

finished disk from and feed a new blank to the machine without stopping, so that the operation may be made substantially contmuous. The method employed is seen to be susceptible to be carried out by a very simple apparatus. The rotatable working element is the table, 11. The working position is defined by it and the cooperating rolls, Its determinate working axis is its axis of rotation. The blank centering means associated with it is the pin, 18. The blank supporting and centering means of the feeding device is comprised of plate, 108, and the centering the feeding position laterally of the work pin, 114. Together they establish ing position and its axis. The guiding means is comprised of the arm, 102, and its mounting onaxis, 101, establishing the arouate path of movement of the supporting and centering means, 108, 114, toward and from the axis represented by pin, 18. The termination of this path of movement is effected by stop means comprised of the adustable screw, 130, engaging the standard, 19, and also by the notched end, 108, of the support, 108, and the notched end, 116,

of the pin, 114. or by any of them. The means defining the relative axial movement is the horizontal axis support, 105, 106. When coincidence is reached, the stop means, 130, 108 and 116 preclude any butaxial movements except return movement on the path. Stop 'means fixing the degree of'the axial movement is found in the adjustable screws, 119.

The apparatus possesses great simplicity and sturdiness, yet the method is most effectually and reliably carried out by it. The blank to be worked upon has its periphery laterally displaced as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the relatively thin and expansive supporting plate, 108, holds thenew blanks in gravitational balance, while the spring pressed centering pin, 114, 'releasably locks it thereon. The new blank, B, and the thin support, 108, are inter-leaved between the working position and the under side of the blank worked upon by very reason of their thinness; As the lateral movement approaches the axes toward coincidence, the axial and lateral thrusts are imparted to the blank to be removed successively by successive axial and lateral movements of the fed blank and the support. 108. Further lateral movement achieves axial coincidence in a plane above the working plane, and the ensuing axial movement, through coaction of the pins, 18 and 114, which are in axial extension of'each other, effects transfer of the fed blank to the rotatable working element, 16, and thereby coincidence of the feeding and working positions. As a result of such movement, the fed blank is released from the supporting and centering means 18 and 114 and these means may be thereupon laterally shifted away from the axis to receive a new blank.

Despite its simplicity the apparatus of my invention, as I have found, has been susceptible of embodiment in a wide variety of forms, each of them carrying out effectually the method of my invention. Three such forms are known to me to have been built and operated. The annexed claims are intended to cover all varieties of the steps of the method and the apparatus by which it is practiced which rightly fall within the generic spirit thereof.

I. claim:

1. The method of feeding to a determinate working position blanks to be Worked upon through their rotation, which consists in working upon a blank in working position to space its periphery from working position, the while establishing a blank to be fed upon a feeding position laterally of the working position, relatively moving the feeding and workingpositions to enter the fed blank in the peripheral space formed through the Working of'theworked blank, removing the worked blank, thereupon establishing substantial coincidence of the working and feeding positions. and then r0- tating the fed blank to be worked upon.

2. The method of feeding blanks having relatively thin peripheral portions to an from a support upon which they are worked,

which consists ininterleaving the thin peripheral portion of a fresh blank between a. worked blank and its support to remove the worked blank from the support and replace it with a new one.

The method of feeding from av determinate Working position blanks worked upon through their rotation, which consists in displacin a worked upon blank while in rotation t irough engagement therewith of a blank being fed to the working position.

4. The method of feeding from a determi- 'nate working position a blank worked upon through its rotation, which consists in feeding toward said working position a blank to be worked upon, and utilizing the feeding movement to displace the blank worked upon while it is yet in rotation.

5. The method of feeding from a determinate working position a blank worked upon through its rotation, which consists in feeding toward the working position a second blank to be worked upon, and durin the feeding movement engaging the fed blank with the worked blank, exerting a thrust upon theworked blank along its axis of rotation, and thereafter'a thrust laterally of its axis of rotation.

6. The method of feeding to a determinate working position blanks to be worked upon through their rotation, which consists in moving a blank to be fed in a' stage preceding the working stage, to a feeding position in a plane axially displaced from the working position of rotation, moving said established feeding position to a position of substantial axial coincidence with the workinv position without changing its plane, an thereafter effecting a coincidence/of plane of the feeding and working positions and imparting rotation to the blank so fed.

7 The method of feeding to a determinate working position blanks to be worked upon through their rotation upon a determinateworking axis, which consists in establishing a blank to be fed upon a feeding position having an axis laterally displaced from the axis of the working position but substantially arallel thereto, relatively movin the fee ing and working position into su stantial coincidence, and'setting up the working rotation of the blank when coincidence is reached.

8. The method of feeding to a determinate working position blanks to be worked upon through their rotation, which consists in initially forming the blanks to be fed to be self-centering, self-centering the blanks to be fed upon a position laterally removed from the working osition, relatively moving the feeding and substantial coincidence. effecting a transfer of the fed blank from the feeding center to the working center through such movement to coincidence, and thereupon setting up rotation of the fed blank.

9. The method of feeding to a determinate working position blanks to be worked upon through their rotation, which consists in establishing a blank to be fed upon a feeding position laterally of the working position be fed into working position toward that' position by a path extending first laterally in a plane below the lateral extension of the blank being removed and then axially in a direction opposite to the axial movement of the blank being removed. 1

10. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element, a blank feeding mechanism therefor including a blank centering means movable toward and from a position of axial coincidence with the working axis, and work transferring means actuated through movement of the feeding mechanism to the position of coincidence to transfer the blank from the blank centering means of the mechanism to the work rotatin axis.

11. An apparatus of the c aracter clescribed comprising a rotatable working element associated with a determinate workrotating axis, ,a blank supporting means movable on a path laterally extending from said work-rotating axis, a blank centering device co-acting with the support to lock thereon a blank to be fedagainst lateral displacement.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element associated with a determinate work-rotating axis, a blank centering means movable toward and from a position of axial coincidence With the working axis, and a second blank centering means associated with the rotatable working element and engage able by the first named blank centering means upon its movement to coincidence to effect transfer from the first named blank centering means to the second.

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element associated with a determinate workrotating axis, a blank centering pin associated with the work-rotating axis, a support for a blank to be worked movable laterally toward and from said work rotating axis, and a second blank centering pin associated with said'support and movable therewith into a position of axial extension from said first-named pin, to ether with means to move the support axially. to effect transfer from one'blank centering pin to the other.

. 14. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working ele ment associated with a determinate workrotating axis, a blank centering means associated with said work-rotating axis to center the blank to be worked upon thereon, a second blank centering means movable from a position laterally of said axis to and from a position in axial alignment with said first named blank centering means, and means 01)- erative insaid position of alignment of the two blank centering means to effect transfer of a fed blank from the laterally movable centering means to the other.

15. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element associated with a determinate workr'otating axis, a. blank feeding mechanism therefor comprising a blank support of sufiicient lateral expanse to alone support the blank suitably in gravitational balance, blank centering means associated therewith, means to guide saidcentering and supporting means toward and from a position of axial coincidence with the working axis, and

means to rotate a blank so moved into coincidence rendered operative through such movement.

16. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element associated with a determinate workrotating axis, and a blank feeding mecha nism therefor comprising a relatively thin and expansive work moving element shiftable toward and from the axis, and guiding means for said support in its shifting movement adapting it to be intervened between the work and the rotatable working element.

17. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element associated with a determinate Workrota-ting axis, a blank centering and supporting means movable toward and from a position of axial coincidence with the working axis, and also along said axis, guiding means for said supporting and centering means terminating the path of movement toward the axis when the supporting and centering means have reached the position of axial co incidence, and limiting the axial movement to a fixed degree sufficient to engage the blank with the rotatable working element. 18. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element associated with a determinate workrotating axis, a blank centering and supporting means movable toward and from a position of axial coincidence with the working axis, and also along said axis, guiding means for said supporting and centering means, said guiding means for said centering means on its path 0% movement including a stop device fixing the movement toward the axis at the position of coincidence, and a second stop fixing the degree of axial movement.

19. An. apparatus of the character describedcomprising a working .element associated with a determinate. work-rotating axis, a blank feeding mechanism therefor comprising a blank centering means movable toward and from a position of axial coincidence with the working axis, .and also along said working axis, together with tween the table and the rolled blank to be means confining the movement of the blank discharged therefrom, and means engaging centering means to movement along the axis the periphery of said rolled blank whereby when a position of axial coincidence is movement oi the feeding device to bring reached. the blank to working position on the table 20. In a machine of the class described, the ejects the rolled blank therefrom. combination with a rotating table adapted 27. In a machine of the class described, to support a blank to be rolled, of a feeding the combination with a rotating table adaptdevice movable into and out of cooperative ed to support a blank to be rolled, of an arm 10 relationship with. said table and including pivotally mounted to swing on a vertical means for supporting a blank to be depositaxis, a lever mounted on the end ofsaid arm ed on the table and means engaging the peto rock on a horizontal ax1s, and a blankripher of a blank on the table to eject the supporting plate carried by said lever and same rom the machine. adapted to be moved by the swinging of said 15 21. In a machine of the class described, arm into and out of cooperative relationship the combination with a rotating table adaptwith said-table.

ed to support a blank to be rolled, of a feed- 28. In a machine of the class described, ing device movable into and out of cooperathe combination with a rotating table adapttive relationship with said table and adapted to support a blank to be rolled, of an arm 20 ed to support a blank and carry it to the mounted to swing on a vertical axis, a lever table, said feeding device being adapted to mounted on the end of said arm to rock on eject a rolled blank from the table and dea horizontal axis, a blank-supporting plate posit the blank carried by it thereon. carried by said lever, a finger pivotally 22. In a machine of the class described, mounted on said lever, and a centering post 25 the combination with a rotating table adaptcarried by the end of said finger and adapted to support a blank to be rolled, of a feeded to engage a central opening formed in mg device movable into and out of cooperathe blank.

tive relationship with said table and includ- 29. In a. machine of the class described, mg a blank-supportingplate mounted to the combination with a rotating table adapt- 30 rock about ahorizontal ax1s. ed to support a blank to be rolled and hav- .23. In a machine of the class described, ing a centering stud passing through a centhe combination. with a rotating table adapttral opening formed in said blank, of an ed to support a blank to be rolled, of a feedarm mounted to swing on a vertical axis, a ing device movable into and out of cooperlever mounted at the end of said arm to rock as ative relationship with said table and inon a horizontal axis, a blank-supporting 40 plate.

' cluding a blank-supporting plate mounted late carried by said lever, a finger hinged to rock about a horizontal axis, and means to said lever, and a centering post carried for hold ng a blank in a predetermined poby said finger and adapted to engage in the sition with respect to said blank-supporting central opening formed in the blank, the

- end of said blank-supporting plate and the 24. In a machine of the class described, corresponding portion of the centering post the combination with a rotating table being notched for engagement with the cen' adapted to support a blank to be rolled, of tering stud of the table.

a feeding device ivotally mounted toswing 30. In a machine of the class described 15 .on a vertical ax1s and out of cooperative rethe combination with a rotating table adaptlationshi with said. table, said'feeding deed to support a blank to be rolled, of an vice inc udmg a blank-supportmg plate arm mounted to swing on a vertical axis, a mounted to rock on a horizontal ax1s. block carried by the end of said arm and 25. In a machine of the class described, movable about a vertical axis with respect 60 the combination with a rotating table adaptthereto, means for causing a frictional en- 1 15 55 plate mounted on said arm to rock about a lever.

ed to support a blank to be rolled, of a feedgagement between the arm and said block,

ing device movable mto and out of cooperaa stud carried by said block and extendin tive relationship with said table and includhorizontally, a lever 'journaled on said stutI, d

ing a supporting arm, ablank-supporting and .a blan supporting plate carriedby sai horizontal axis, and means-ada ted to en- 31. An apparatus of the character degage the perlphery of the rolled lank to be scribed comprising a rotatable working eledischarged from the table. ment,, a blank feeding mechanism therefor 26. In a machine of the class described, including a blank supporting device, and a 60 the combination with a rotating table adaptyielding guiding means therefor adapted to 12 ed to support a blank to be rolled, of a feedgive when a thrust is imparted by said ing device movable into and out of cooperaworking element or parts associated theretive relationship with said table andincludwith either to. the supporting device or. to ing means for supporting a blank, means for the blank while it is yet held thereon.

' actuating and blank to insert the same be- 32. An apparatus, of the character deizo scribed comprising a rotatable working eleblank supporting plate shiftable toward and ment, a blank feeding mechanism therefor from the work support and a spring'inter- 10 including a blank supporting and centering vposed between the base and the support to means for a blank to be fed, and also a blank partly counterbalance the weight of the supsupporting means for a blank to be removed. port.

33. In an apparatus of the character de- In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my scribed, a base, a Work support on the base, signature. a blank feeding mechanism comprising a JOHN W. SMITH. 

